Army soldiers play Santa for patients in Philippine hospital

From the Mindanao Examiner (Dec 29): Army soldiers play Santa for patients in Philippine hospital

Dozens of patients at a hospital in Cotabato City were moved to tears after soldiers led by a mascot visited and sang Christmas carols and danced before handing out goodies to them. Dubbed as the “Singing Bee,” members of the 7th Infantry Battalion headed by Col. Benjamin Hao, serenaded the patients who were overwhelmed by the surprise visit of the soldiers at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center.

Shirley Salik, medical social worker, and Mark Navales, bureau chief of the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner, helped coordinate the visit of Hao, whose group is recently named as Best Battalion by the 6th Infantry Division in Maguindanao province.“It was very moving and many were in tears as the soldiers sang for them. Col. Hao and the soldiers were likewise moved and elated by the warm reception of everybody at the hospital and all these for the spirit of the yuletide holidays,” Navales said.







Members of the 7th Infantry Battalion headed by Col. Benjamin Hao visit the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City where they sing and dance, bringing cheers to patients. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Mark Navales)

http://mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20121229060225